Pine Resin Glue

Hi folks, just a short write up on making pine resin (pitch) glue. On Saturday past i spent about an hour and a half collecting resin from spruce and managed to gather only but a fistful but not deterred i was determined to make myself some natural glue for my fish hooks.


Today i set about using my gas camping stove and a bean can to heat the resin gently to turn it to a liquid form. The chances are you will not get pure resin straight off the tree as i found mine was full of debris that had fallen from the canopy above, needles, bark, insects etc. To get rid of this matter i used another bean can and simply drilled holes in it to make a simple strainer and a third bean can below this can to collect the now 'clean' resin

First burn of the pine resin into liquid for note a split stick for a handle, very handy

                                                 

You now take the liquified resin from the first burn can pour it through the strainer into the collection can. Be quick here as the resin solidifies soon after coming off the heat and i cant stress enough to be careful not to get burnt by the resin a pair of gloves should be used if your not too sure. If your resin solidifies place it back on the heat to melt it down again.

Next you will need dry charcoal ground down in a pestle and mortar to a fine powder. You will also need dried grass matter ground down and to get this i collected pre ground grasses in the form of deer dung as the works done for you! This has to be dried and ground down also. For quantites i used 5 parts pine resin to 1 part charcoal and 1 part grass matter just add these to the pine resin and mix thoroughly and its pretty much done. You will now need a stick to roll the resin onto and you will need to keep putting the mix back on the heat to prevent it solidifing while you get it rolled on the stick

Roll the glue on a rock or cold surface to make it harden quicker then pop it back into the mixture for a few seconds then out and roll it onto the stick, repeat this process until you have a nice big ball on the end of your stick which can be heated over a fire on the trail and applied to whatever you need to stick for example fletching arrows, applying arrowheads, fish hooks, temporary field repairs, the uses are endless.

 

Fish Hook

Fish hook complete with pine resin to both strengthen it and waterproof it for use

Many thanks, sorry for some pic quality and lack of them as i didnt really have much time to stop and take them as you will find out,

Davy K.